陶文华
省略是为了避免重复,突出新信息并使上下文紧密连接的一种修辞手段。它能使表达更加简洁明了。高考英语试题的很多考点都涉及省略,如非謂语动词、连词、从句、情景理解、比较结构等知识点都有可能与省略交叉考查。
[名词所有格后的省略]
1. 如果名词所有格修饰的名词在前文已出现,则可以省略。
These are Johns books and those are Marys (books).
这些是约翰的书,那些是玛丽的书。
2. 名词所有格后修饰的名词如果是指商店、住宅等地点时,这些名词也常常省略。
at the doctors 在诊所
at Mr. Greens 在格林先生家
to my uncles 到我叔叔家
at the barbers 在理发店
[冠词的省略]
1. 为了避免重复,通常省略冠词。
The lightning flashed and thunder crashed.
电闪雷鸣。(thunder前省略了定冠词the)
2. 在副词的最高级前面的定冠词常可以省略。
She sings best in the class.
她在班上唱歌唱得最好。
3. 在某些独立主格结构中,常省略冠词。
Our teacher came in, book in hand.
=Our teacher came in, with a book in his hand.
在as引导的让步状语从句中,当作表语的单数名词提前时,不定冠词要省略。
Child as he is, he knows a lot.
虽然他还是一个孩子,却懂得很多。
[介词的省略]
1. both后常跟of短语,其后可以接名词复数形式,也可以接代词宾格复数形式。接复数名词时,介词of可以省略,但接代词宾格时,of不能省略。
Both (of) the films were interesting.
这两部电影都很有趣。
She invited both of us to her birthday party.
她邀请我们俩去参加她的生日派对。
2. 在现在完成时表示持续和重复的句型中,一段时间前的介词for可以省略。
These shoes are worn out. They have lasted (for) a long time.
这双鞋穿破了,已经穿了很长一段时间了。
3. 和一些动词搭配构成的短语中的介词,如consider ... (as) ..., prevent/stop ... (from) doing ..., have trouble/difficulty ... (in) doing ..., spend... (in/on) doing ... 等中的介词可以省略。
Trees can prevent the earth (from) being washed away.
树能阻止土壤被冲走。
Can you stop him (from) going swimming in the river?
你能阻止他下河洗澡吗?
I have some difficulty (in) answering the question.
回答这个问题我有点困难。
4. 有些动词如believe,find,think,feel,consider,imagine,prove等后作宾语补足语的结构to be+n./adj.中的to be可以省略。
I consider him (to be) lazy.
我认为他懒。
His mother found him (to be) a clever boy.
他母亲发觉他是一个很聪明的孩子。
5. 感官动词see,hear,feel,watch,notice等以及使役动词let,make,have后作宾语补足语的动词不定式,其中的不定式符号to要省略,但变为被动结构时,to必须保留。
They made the boy go to bed early.
他们强迫这个男孩早睡。
The boy was made to go to bed early.
这个男孩被迫早睡。
注意 help后作宾语补足语的动词不定式中的to,可以省略也可保留。
6. 在can not but,can not choose but,can not help but之后的动词不定式一般不带to;but之前有实义动词do的某个形式(do,does,did,done)时,也不带to,否则要带to。
We have nothing to do now but wait.
我们现在除了等没有别的事可做。
I can not but admire his courage.
我不能不钦佩他的勇敢。
He has no choice but to accept the fact.
除了接受这个事实他别无选择。
[简单句中的省略]
1. 感叹句中常省略主语和谓语。
What a hot day (it is)!
多热的天啊!
How wonderful!
多妙啊!
2. 在一些口語中可以省略某些句子成分。
—(Will you) Have a smoke?
你抽烟吗?
—No. Thanks.
不,谢谢。
(Is there) Anything else to say?
还有别的要说吗?
[并列句中的省略]
1. 并列句的两个句子如果主语不同,而谓语动词中的一部分相同,则省略谓语动词中相同的那部分。
John must have been playing football and Mary (must have been) doing her homework.
约翰一定在踢球,而玛丽一定在做作业。
2. 并列句的两个句子如果主语相同,谓语动词也相同,则二者都可以省略。
His suggestions made John happy, but (his suggestions made) Mary angry.
他的建议使约翰高兴,却使玛丽很生气。
3. 主语相同,而谓语不同,则可以省略主语。
Old McDonald gave up smoking for a while, but (he) soon returned to his old ways.
老麦克唐纳戒了一阵子烟,可很快又抽上了。
4. 在并列复合句中,如果that从句从属于第二个并列句,且它的谓语动词、宾语和其他成分与第一个并列句相同时,这个that从句通常可以省略这些相同的部分。
Jack will sing at the party, but I know John wont (sing at the party).
杰克将在晚会上唱歌,但我知道约翰不会在晚会上唱歌。
[复合句中的省略]
1. 名词性从句中的省略
(1)作宾语的what从句中的谓语动词,与主句的谓语动词相同时,则what从句可以省略谓语,甚至主语。
Someone has used my bike, but I dont know who (has used it).
有人用了我的自行车,但我不知道是谁。
He has gone, but no one knows where (he has gone).
他走了,但没人知道他去哪儿了。
(2)有时候也可以根据说话的情景来省略主句中的一些成分。
(Im) Sorry Ive kept you waiting so long.
对不起,让你久等了。
(3)在某些表示虚拟语气的主语从句、宾语从句、表语从句和同位语从句中,从句谓语动词中的助动词should可以省略。
Its important that we (should) speak to the old politely.
我们对老人说话要有礼貌,这很重要。
2. 状语从句中的省略
(1)在某些状语从句中,从句的主语与主句的主语一致,或为it,且谓语含be动词,可省去“主语+be”部分,连词有时也可省略。
All the photographs in this book, unless (they are) stated otherwise, date from the 1950s.
If asked to look after luggage for someone else, inform the police at once.
如果有人要求你为他照看行李,请马上报警。
(2)连词if在部分虚拟条件句中可省略。
The bridge couldnt have been built perfectly if not carefully designed.
如果没有经过精心设计,这座桥不可能建得完美。
(3)主句与从句各有一些成分省略。
The sooner (you do it), the better (it will be).
越快越好。
3. 定语从句中的省略
①在限制性定语从句中,作宾语的关系代词that,which, who (whom)常可以省略。
The man (who/whom) I saw is called Smith.
我看见的那个男人叫史密斯。
[应用]
(2016·全国卷Ⅰ) 假定你是李华,暑假想去一家外贸公司兼职,已写好申请书和个人简历(resume)。给外教Mr. Jenkins写信,请她帮你修改所附材料的文字和格式(format)。
范文
Dear Mr. Jenkins,
Im Li Hua from your English writing class last term. Im writing to ask for your help.
Im applying for a part-time job at a foreign company in my city during the summer vacation, and I have just completed my application letter and resume. However, I am not quite sure of the language and the format (which/that) Ive used (在限制性定语从句中,作宾语的关系代词that,which,who/whom常可以省略). I know you have a very busy schedule, but Id be very grateful if you could take some time to go through them and make necessary changes.
Please find my application letter and resume in the attachment.
Thank you for your kindness!
Yours,
Li Hua